Painting your kitchen cabinet needs a lot of patience as it is a bit tedious in accomplishing all the tasks involved. However, this is the best thing that you can do if you want to give your kitchen cabinet a sparkly appearance.
It is not enough to just paint your kitchen cabinets for the sake of doing it or for beauty purposes; everyone would love to have long-lasting kitchen cabinets. It will be very disappointing going through the whole painting process only to realize that the paint is peeling off a few months after painting. To ensure that this does not happen, below are the best tips that will make your painted kitchen cabinets last longer.
1. Thorough Prepping
Start by removing all the components of the cabinet and clean thoroughly while ensuring that greases and dust are not visible on the surfaces. Detach the knobs, hinges, drawers, and handles; label them for easy re-attachment after painting. This will ensure that all areas are attended to for effective paint application.
Seal off all parts that are not to be painted using a masking tape. With the aid of wood filler, seal all visible holes on the wood surface and finally sand the cabinet starting with the hard parts, forgetting the door ends. For stained cabinets, you can use a stronger sandpaper like grade 220 which will ensure that all areas are clean and smooth to guarantee uniformity when applying the final paint to the cabinets.
2. Thorough Cleaning of Cabinet Surfaces
Thoroughly clean your cabinets before applying the paint to give it a fresh start that will ensure final painting is permanent. Make sure the cabinets’ surfaces are as sparkling as possible keeping in mind the fact that any traces of greases left on the surface will hinder paint from penetrating deep into the wood. After sanding, wipe thoroughly the wooden surface to eliminate the possibility of dust particles mixing with fresh paint.
3. Prime the Surfaces Well
Priming is a very important aspect in painting that guarantees the durability of painted surfaces. Avoid buying all in one primer and paint as this will produce unsatisfactory work. Use oil primer and paint as they give the most excellent and long-lasting impact on the kitchen cabinets. In case you are changing cabinet color from dark to light color, tone your primmer to blend with the final color. This can be conveniently done for you on request at the paint store. It is important to remember that after the base coat is dry, you should again sand the cabinet surfaces but this time lightly to ensure that you are not leaving marks.
4. Select Quality Paint
The type of paint you apply to your kitchen cabinet surfaces will determine its general appearance and durability. Quality paint guarantees a better outcome and will not show signs of peeling, flaking, cracking or fading any time soon. Using a fine bristle paint brush, apply two coats of paint until fine and smooth.
Regardless of the type of paint you are using, it is advisable to aerate the room for maximum air circulation to avoid suffocation during the process. For safety purpose, always wear protective gear such as gloves and masks while painting. Maintain a clean and safe working environment all through.
5. Finally, add a Clear Coat
After going through the whole process of painting, it is advisable to apply a clear coat as the final touch on the surfaces being painted. Spare at least one day to paint a clear top coat as this will make the cabinet surfaces both strong and long-lasting. This is the best finish ever that will create an impact on your cabinet and acting as a protective top layer.
Last but not least, use felt feet on the cabinet doors and drawers instead of rubber ones because rubber is prone to sticking on the paint and stripping off later leading to larger flakes with time. Allow the final coat to dry well before replacing the shelves, drawers and other appliances back to the cabinet. Remove the masking tapes from the cabinet and return the knobs and hinges to its rightful place. Replace the drawer pulls and re-mount each drawer in its main operational state.
The above are the most successful tips you can apply to make your painted kitchen cabinets long lasting if you choose the DIY route.
By DYB Virtual
